Overview
- Melissa made landfall near Chivirico, Santiago de Cuba, around 3:10 a.m. ET with 120 mph winds and then weakened to 115 mph as it moved northeast, according to the National Hurricane Center.
- Cuban authorities ordered mass relocations ranging from 500,000 to 735,000 people, with hurricane warnings in eastern provinces and evacuations ordered in parts of the Bahamas; a watch is in effect for Bermuda.
- Jamaica was declared a disaster area after a Category 5 landfall near New Hope with 185 mph winds, leaving widespread outages, flooded parishes such as St. Elizabeth, and damage to hospitals, homes, schools and roads.
- At least seven deaths have been reported across the region, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, according to officials and local reports.
- The NHC warned of storm surge up to 12 feet and 10–20 inches of rain in eastern Cuba with numerous landslides likely, while the United Nations plans an airlift of relief kits to Jamaica once flights can operate.